As a truly ultralight offering, the Lightspeed jacket might seem like a break from tradition for Mont, but with some clever tech on board this ultralight jacket is surprisingly well-equiped.
Ultralight jackets, especially those specifically crafted for trail running, are generally assumed to be excellent windbreakers, but when it comes to wet weather they’re often just showerproof, or water resistant. The Mont Lightspeed, however, claims to be both 100% windproof and totally waterproof. I’ve been testing one out over the past year to see how it stands up as an ultralight hiking jacket.
The Design
The Lightspeed jacket features Mont’s Hydronaute Ultra, a three layer fabric that manages to maintain breathability while also being totally windproof and waterproof. Being ultralight by design, the jacket weighs in at an impressive 165g for a medium size. Compare this to Mont’s Ultralight hiking jacket, the Highplains, which weighs in at 340g.
Specifically designed for active pursuits like cycling, trail running and cross-country skiing, the Lightspeed jacket isn’t as long as hiking jackets, which allows for greater freedom of movement. The streamlined fit reduces the amount of fabric needed, keeping the weight low and the additional features to a minimal. There’s just one external chest pocket, a decently sized hood with a reinforced visor, elasticated cuffs and a hem drawcord.
As an extra touch (with close to zero additional weight) , Mont have added reflective strips to the sleeve and back of the jacket to aid visibility when trail running or cycling at night. These thin marks also spell out the word Mont, in morse code.
Testing the Mont Lightspeed Jacket
I’d thought that seven days of hiking in New Zealand would be the perfect initial proving ground for the Lightspeed jacket, but the weather gods weren’t in my favour and I was treated to stunning conditions for most of that trip. However, even before the rain came (and when it did arrive it arrived in abundance!) I was impressed by the Lightspeed. One of the key features of an ultralight jacket is that it is super light and packable. Check and check. I’ve always avoided ultralight jackets in the past, especially for multi-day bikepacking trips, because I want my rainjacket to be waterproof – which most of them aren’t. This means I have always sacrificed some weight in favour of carrying a jacket that will actually keep me dry in more than just a light shower. The Lightspeed packs away nice and small and was easy to stash in an external pocket on my backpack, ready for use at a moments notice. It’s worth noting that there are smaller and lighter ultralight jackets out there – but they probably won’t keep you dry in a downpour.
Despite the lack of rain in New Zealand, there was plenty of wind. The jacket performed admirably in these conditions, keeping my torso warm, without getting stuffy and sweaty during long climbs. On our final day, we were hiking above Queenstown and the rain did finally arrive. It absolutely bucketed down on us for several hours and by the time we finished our hike I was the only one of our group that remained dry under my jacket. I was also one of the only hikers amongst us that also carried waterproof pants, but that’s another story.
The Lightspeed has quite a slim fit to it, but I found there was still room for a light puffer jacket underneath, the elasticated cuffs were comfortable and the hood is a decent size. I’ve mentioned that the jacket was easy to stash when not in use, although it doesn’t pack away into its own pocket, or come with a stash bag like many rainjackets do.
When returning to Canberra, I was treated to many more rainy days to get out testing and I took the opportunity for a few soggy bike rides amongst the walking. The breathability of the jacket remained strong even with the elevated activity on the bike and the jacket’s cut comes far enough down the back to fit comfortably on the bike. Similarly I found the sleeve length comfortable and long enough to keep my wrists covered when leaning forward over the handlebars.
Throughout the year, the Lightspeed jacket has been with me on many trips, in Australia and over seas. The ultralight fabric has held its own against carrying a backpack on multiple hiking trips and it happily survived the rigours of a wet, snowy, occasionally sunny and rugged multi-day hiking trip in Tasmania.
Wrapping up: Mont Lightspeed Jacket
Ultralight jackets have always felt like a bit of a compromise to me, offering the safety and warmth of a windbreaker, but falling short on their waterproofing. The Mont Lightspeed steps up and offers superior waterproofing while still achieving a very respectable score on the scales and in my opinion it is worth the extra grams in order to stay dry out there on the trails.